Predicting Which Chicago Bears Contract Year Players Get Extensions

The Chicago Bears have avoided handing out extensions to this point as GM Ryan Poles sought to tear the roster down to the foundations and rebuild. At some point, that will have to change if he wishes to fulfill his vision of a homegrown roster. This will be the first year when things start to get serious. Several players on the roster have expiring rookie deals. They all have a case in some form or another for an extension. What Poles needs to figure out is which of them he should prioritize.

As of now, five players feel like priorities for the Bears. Let's run through each of them with the simple question of whether or not they will get the new deal they seek and why.

The Chicago Bears have several expiring contracts to sort through.

Cole Kmet - Yes

If there is anybody likely to receive an extension before the start of the 2023 season, it's Kmet. He played very well last season, cracking 500 yards for the second year in a row and leading the team with seven touchdown catches. He has a clear connection with Justin Fields that continues to grow. From the Bears' point of view, it also makes sense because the price tag isn't too high. They can extend him without having to make him one of the highest-paid tight ends in the league, knowing he still has plenty of room to grow. It feels like the ideal time to strike.

Chase Claypool - No

This is by far the toughest one. Claypool did not play well after arriving last season. However, part of that was due to health and unfamiliarity with the new offense. He's had time to acclimate now and should be considerably better this year. The problem is what kind of money he's hoping for. Claypool will likely seek a top-shelf deal depending on how good his year is. Having already traded for D.J. Moore and his considerable contract, the Bears aren't in a great position to hand him one. That is why he is the less likely of the two receivers on this list to get an extension.

Darnell Mooney - Yes

Some things are working in Mooney's favor. For one, he already has a well-established connection with Fields. They have clear chemistry that has produced results in the past. On the other hand, Mooney isn't likely to command a massive contract. He is currently looking at something between $13-16 million per year. That is a solid ballpark for a second or third option at wide receiver. His injury last season might actually play in the Chicago Bears' favor. Mooney could decide to gamble on himself this year in hopes of improving his leverage. Doing so risks another down year, though. That would tank his value entirely. Taking a solid payday and staying with Fields makes the most sense.

Jaylon Johnson - No

This may surprise a lot of people. Johnson has been their most reliable cornerback for three years now. Why move on? A few reasons. One health. He has missed multiple games each year with various injuries, including six last season. Another is production. Johnson has one interception in his career, which isn't something likely to make the turnover-minded Matt Eberflus happy. Last but not least is the massive investment at cornerback the team has made. Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith were both added via the draft this year. Both are viewed as outside corners. Johnson is under a ton of pressure to produce this year. It feels like they're prepared for his exit.

Trevis Gipson - No

There was a moment where it looked like Gipson was morphing into a legitimate pass rusher with seven sacks in 2021. Shifting to a 4-3 defense last year felt like a good thing for him. So when he regressed to only three sacks, it was a disappointment. He was lucky the team failed to find much pass rush help this off-season, giving him an opportunity to rebound. The odds feel against him, though. Edge rushers are expensive, and this regime didn't draft him. Unless he breaks out for double-digit sacks, they will unlikely want to shell out significant cash to somebody who was never part of their vision.